Hamilton County will look to the federal government for financial aid ­after digging out from more than a foot of snow and coping with subzero temperatures this week.

The Hamilton County Commissioners on Thursday signed off on a disaster declaration. The decision will become official at the board’s meeting Monday.

Making a disaster declaration allows local governments to seek federal financial reimbursement of storm-associated expenses if a presidential disaster is declared.

“The severe weather caused extensive damage to private and public property throughout Hamilton County,” the county’s emergency management department said in a news release Thursday.

The conditions “hampered clearing of roadways, causing dangerous conditions,” the release said. “This in turn forced many businesses and industries as well as government offices and schools to close.”

Tom Sivak, executive director of Hamilton County Emergency Management, said the county has been unable to calculate the total cost of the storm. The expenses will become clearer once crews are finished dealing with the storm’s aftermath.

“They’re still pushing snow and plowing the roads,” Sivak said. “They’re working on it. It’s definitely not over yet.”

Sivak said the county thinks it has exceeded $950,000 in costs, the benchmark estimate it uses to determine whether to file for a disaster declaration.

Sivak said there is no guarantee Hamilton County will receive any federal money. Despite petitioning the Federal Emergency Management Agency for tornado relief money in November, Howard County was denied funds.

“If they were denied aid for the tornadoes, we’re always worried,” ­Sivak said. “It’s just kind of a wait-and-see game.”